Tunneling-shield.



C. G. HASTINGS.

TUNNELING SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- l9. 194- I 1,256,313. Patented Feb.12,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

G. G. HASTINGS.

'TUNNELING SHIELD; APPLICATION FILED NOV. l9.'l9l4.

Patented Feb; 12, 1918..

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C. G. HASTINGS.

" TUNNELING SHIELDL APPLICATION FILED NOV.19 1914- Patented Feb. 12

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Patentd Feb. 12,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4- ,5 55555 v5 Coma/12x5 flaafm a C. G. HASTINGS.

TUNNELING SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- IQ, l9l4. Patented Feb' 12,

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TUNNELING SHIELD.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. I9, 1914.

Patented Feb. 12, 19121 5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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CORNELIUS G. HASTINGS, OF WEST HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

TUNNELING-SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918 application area November 19, 1914. seri'ai'm.872,921.

T0,..aZZ whom irma concern:

Be it known that I, CoRNnLIUs G. I-IAs'rnkos, a citizen oftlie, UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of West Hob'oken, in the county ofHudson andState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tunneling-Shields; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved method or system for projecting atunnel bore, and involves the use of a shield which is of the shape ofthe cross section of the tunnel to be built. The use of the shield.permits the lining of masonry or concrete, as the case may be, to bebuilt up with perfect safety to the workmen, the respective layers ofmasonry being laid up within the rear end of the shield, and with motivemechanisms mounted within said shield and bearing upon the masonry as anabutment to project said shield forwardly.

It is an object of this invention to construct a device for use in animproved method of boring a tunnel which acts to shelter and protect theworkmen from caveins, andpermits rapid building up of the walls of thetunnel, the device being providecl with power means for projecting thesame forwardly, at the same time correcting any deviation from the trueline of the bore.

It is also an object of this invention .to construct a circular orelliptical shield consisting of a shell of metal conforming to the crosssection of the tunnel to be built, and provided around its peripherywith hydraulic mechanisms for driving the same through the soil underground, means being provided for the transfer of the material excavatedin front ofsaid shell through the same to a point-of deposit.

It is also an important object of this invention to construct atunneling shield or shell adapted to be projected through the ground atany angle and in straight or curved lines as necessary. permitting theearth in front of the shield to be excavated and. transferredtherethrough and rear- Wardly to a point of deposit and also permit=ting the Walls of the bore or tunnel to be.

therein then opened to permit a flow of the.

material excavated therethrough and into the shell for transfer to apointof deposit as said shield is projected through the ground.

It is finally an object of this invention to construct a device which,by its use, admits of the rapid projection of a tunnel bore'under groundin any direction and at the same time permitting the walls of said boreto be built up affording an abutment for mechanisms which act to projectsaid device further into and through the ground.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of'a shield embodying the principles of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof with lillts omitted and parts brokenaway to illustrate the construction.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 3"3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. t is a fragmentary rear detail v1e.\v

of one of the pairs of adjustable grid doors 7 Fig. 9 is a fragmentarysection taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of one ofthe sets of the circular air supply andexhaust lines from which the hydraulic mechanism for projecting theshield head are operated.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11 -11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged section taken on line 12- 12of Fig. 10..

Fig. 13 is a detail section taken on'line 1e 1s of Fig. 12. j

As shown in the drawings V The tunneling shield consists of twocylindrical shells concentric with one another,- the outer one of whichis denoted by the' reference numeral 1, and the inner one, by thereference numeral 2, and said shells are,

' as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of an oval cross section. Asclearlyshown in Fig; 2, said respective inner and outer shells arerigidly connected and spacedone from another by radial plates 3, rivetedto angles 1, which are in turn riveted to the walls of said respectiveshells, and intermediate bracing members 5, are riveted between saidradial plates 3, reinforcing and-spacing the same circumferentiallyaround the shield. Connected to theforward edge of the inner shell I2 bymeans of angle irons 6 riveted to one I 7 t a another and to said shell2, 1s a smoothly ward edge'of a section or ring of metal 7*,

curved outwardly flaring ring of metal 7, which at its outer flaredmargin is rlveted or otherwise positively secured to the forwhich isjoinedto said outer shell 1. Relatively heavy T-bars 8, are riveted uponthe outwardly flaring surface of said ring mem her 7, tapered down attheir forward ends nearv the leading edge of the shield, and beingriveted toy and through said ring 7, and

connected to reinforcing T-bars 9, on. the opposite surface thereof.

A framework is built within said inner shell 2. comprising horizontalplates 10 and 11, respectively, joined thereto and at their 7 forwardedges extended beyond the shell 2,

as clearly shown in. Fig. 3. Riveted upon the upper and lower surface ofeach of said respective plates lO and 11,.are the angle irons 12 and 13,respectively, which afford a means of attachment thereto of a series ofvertical or rigid upright frame bars 1 1, 15, and 16, the lower bars 1-1and upper bars 15, being connected to angle irons 17, secured upon theinner surface of the shell 2, as well as to the aforesaid angle irons onsaid horizontal plates 10 and 11. Riveted to said respective uprightbars 1a, 1.5, and 1.6, are horizontal longitudinally extending angleirons 18, each of which is connected to one of the respective horizontalangle irons 12 or 13, asthe case may be, by diagonal brac ing angleirons 19.

A continuous peripheral angle iron 20,

extends around and is secured within the outer shell 1, and attachedthereto by rivets or in anyother suitable manner, are end plates 21,.closing the end of. the compartments between the respective shells 1 and2, nd radial plates 3. Riveted to the plates 21, is a continuousperipheral angle iron 22, ex tending around the'shield afiording a meansof attachment thereto of a spring steel tempered apron 23, the outersurface of which is flush with'the outer surface of the shell 1'. Thetrailing or rear margin of said apron is provided with a plurality ofslots to further increase the flexibility thereof at that portion.

A plurality of frames which are of Z- bar sectlon-and which may bebuiltup of? standard Z-barsor cast as a single integral unit, are shownmounted in vertical position between the respective horizontal plates 10and 11, and the inner walls of the shell'2, and are denoted respectivelybyt-he reference numerals 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32,:

through said plates, as, for instance, the:

lower horizontal portion of the Z-frame 29,

is riveted to the upper horizontal portion of the Z-frame 26, throughthe horizontal plate 10. The vertical or upright portions of adjacentZ-bar frames, have interposed therebetween vertical forwardly projectingplates 36, 37 and 38,-respectively, withthe flanges of said Z-bar framesriveted therethrough and to one another. As clearly shown in Fig. 1,each of the. vertical plates 36, are alined with one another,,at oneside of the shield, and similarly the plates 38, are disposed. invertical alinement one above the other on the other side of the shield,while the plates 37, are disposed centrally of'the shield and alsoalined vertically one above the other. T I

Riveted, brazed or otherwise secured to the horizontal forwardlyprojecting flanges of the Z-bar framesto afford a breaker edge areplates 39 and 40, which, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, areoutwardly cone cave and extend forwardly of the shieldand are attachedto the outer end of the horie zontal plate 10 and 11, respectively.Simi-f larly associated with the vertical plates 36.,

37, and 38, are outwardly concave plates 41,

42, and 43, respectively, and at the junction of said vertically andhorizontally disposed plates, the same are joined to one another in anysuitable manner, affording a breaker of such points, as clearly showninFig'. 1.

Secured both upon said outwardly concave" vertical and horizontalbreaker plates, are a plurality of T-bars 44, conforming to the 1125point, the shield being provided with six curvature of said plates, andtapered off at their forward ends as clearly shown in Fig. 3, acting toreinforce said breaker plates and also serving as cutting or breakingelements as the shield is driven through the earth. A number of pairs ofrearwardly swinging doors are mounted vertically within the shieldbetweenthe respective horizontal and vertical breaker members described,denoted respectively by the reference numerals 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50,51, and 52. However, the construction of the pair of doors 49, istypical of the others, and hence a description thereof will suflice forall.

Each of said doors comprises an outwardly directed small channel member53 which extends around the top, bottom anc hinge side thereof, and witha filler member 54, extending along the other side or opposite the hingeside of the door. A heavy plate 55, is bent outwardly along its marginsand riveted or brazed to said respective chan nel frame member 53, atthe top, bottom and side of the door, and to the filler member 54.

Integral vertical ribs 56, are formed on said door plate 55',and'intermediate said ribs slots are cut through said plate. Bolted orriveted on the rear surface of said door plate is another slotted plate57, and disposed thereon both above and below the double row of slotstherein, are Z-bar guides 58, in which slotted grid plates 59, aremounted to slide, acting, when the slots in said latter plates are inregister with the openings to permit passage of material through theclosed doors, and when moved out of register therewith, entirely closingthe apertures in said doors. For the purpose of moving said slidablegrid plates 59,,

levers 60, are pivoted at their upper ends on the guide members 58. andeach receives a'pln 61, which is secured on a shdable grld plate,through a slot in the middle portion of,

said lever, so that by swinging said levers the grid plates may beeasily adjusted.

Said doors are hingedly mounted upon the side members of the respectiveZ-bar frames, hinges 62, being connected to each of said doors at theends and middle thereof, and to the web of the Z-bar frame 29. For thepurpose of locking said doors in closed position one of the doors isadapted to close over the other, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and'saidlatter door at its top and bottom ends is provided with guide members(33. Similarly constructed members 64, are mounted in alinementtherewith upon the Web portion at the top and bottom of the Z-frame 29.and slidable bolts (35, are mounted in said guide members 63, and actwhen thrust downwardly to engage in guide members 64, to maintain thedoors locked in closed position. For the purpose of actuating saidslidable-bolts 65, long levers G6. are

6 5 pivotally connected thereto and to a rotatable handle 67, at themiddle of the door, which when swung upwardly from the position shown inFig. 4, and through an angle of one hundred eighty degrees, serves tothrust said bolts 65, into a locked position. The Z-bar frames 24, 27,32, and 35, are not provided with doors, but merely have a fixed slottedplate 68, secured therein, each with a slidable grid plate 69, on therear surface thereof, actuated by a lever 7 0, similar to the levers 60,already described.

Mounted within the compartments formed between the inner and outer shelland between the radial plates 3, are hydraulic or pneumatic jacks, asclearly shown in Fig. 3, consisting of a. cylinder 71, suitably supported in a circular yoke, one bandof which is removable, afforded bysaid cross brace members 5, and in a curved or cylindrical support 72,at the rear end of the compartment. A piston connected to a piston rod(not shown) is movable within each of said hydraulic cylinders 71, andon the outer end of the piston. rod is secured a head 73, adapted toabut against the masonry built up within the resilient apron 23, inorder to thrust the shield forwardly when compressed air or other fluidis admitted into the cylinder 71. For the purpose of re tracting saidhead 73, another small cylinder 74, is connected on the end of saidlarge cylinder 71, and contains a piston and piston rod (not shown)connected to the piston and piston rod of the large cylinder 71, so thatair admitted to the small cylinder causes retraction of the head 73.

For the purpose of actuating the pistons in said respective hydrauliccylinders 71 and 74, n inlet pipe 75, leads into the large cylinder 71,and is then led to one of a number of valves 76, each of which isconnected between two circular manifold pipes 77 and 78, respectively,the former an exhaust line and the latter a pressure supply line. Theshort pipe leading from the valve 76,. into the pressure ring ormanifold 78, is indicated by the reference numeral 79, and another shortpipe 80., is also connected to said valve 7 6, and to the exhaust ringor manifold 77. Leading from each of the small cylinders 74, is a pipe81, which is connected to the same valve 76, as the particular pipe 75,for that pair of hydraulic cylinders, and within each of said valves 76,is a rotatable member 82, providcd with passages 83 and 84, therein. Ahand wheel 85, is provided on the end of a stem secured on said valvemember 82, for the purpose of rotating the same into its variouspositions of adjustment. A set of said pressure and exhaust. ringmanifolds 78 and 77, are mounted one on each side of the shield, one ofwhich is shown properly connected tohalf of the total number ofhydraulic jack members in Fig. 2', while V the other (not shown) is ofcourse similarly mounted and connected upon the other side of theshield. V

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9 I have illustrated a boring or cutting tool whichmay be mounted behind certain of the doors of the shield,

and when the doors are opened brought into operation to break throughthe soil ahead of the shield. However, I have onl shown such a mechanismpositioned behinc one of the doors of the shield, but it is obvious thatany number thereof may be utilized.

i F or this purpose brackets 86, are attached upon the upper surfaceofthe horizontal floor plate 10, and similar brackets 87, are connecteddirectly thereabove on the under surface of the plate 11. Secured in thelower brackets 86, is a 1 0C188, and similarly inthe upper brackets 87,a rod 89, is mounted. Slidably engaged upon said respective rods is avertically disposed carriage 90. For the purpose of adjusting saidcarriage Y 90, upon the rods 88 and 89, a pinion 91, IS

journaled in a bracket 92, formed on said carriage, and is actuatableby'a crank (not shown), said pinion engaging a rack formed by teeth outin theunder side of the rod 89.

A sleeve 93, is slidably mounted within a tubular portion of saidcarriage 90, at the middle thereof, and as'clearlv shown in detail inFig. 8, is'provided on its under surface with a series of teethaffording a rack, which is engaged by a pinion 94, journaled in abracket 95, formed onsaid carriage 90. A crank (not shown )is suitablyconnected to said pinion 9.4, for the purpose of rotating the same. andadvancing said sleeve 93, forwardly through the carriage.

Journaled Within said sleeve 93, is a shaft 96, having a collar 97, onits rear end to maintain the same in position in the sleeve and at itsforward end having keyed thereon in successive order a relatively largesharp cutting point 98, a small pair of cut ting blades 99, and a pairof large cutting blades "100. A driving gear 101, is also keyed upon theforward end of said shaft 96, directly behind the large pair of cuttingblades'lOO, and receives its drive from a small pinion 102, keyed-upon ashaft 103, which is journaled in the arms of the carriage 90, and alsoin brackets 10% and 105,

respectively, the bracket 10%, being integral bracket formed on one sideof the carriage 90, and secured upon the armature thereof is a drivingpinion 108,'wliich meshes with said gear 106', to drive the same andsaid shaft 103, the drive being transmitted therefrom to the pinion 102,to the gear 101, and thence to the shaft96, whereby the excavat ingmechanisms 98, 99, and 100, are ro-l tated. V

The operation is as follows: 1 r

The shield is set up in an excavation made for the purpose beneath the,ground, or if For certain kinds of ing the resilient steel apron 23, andthe jacks V are adj ustedby means of the respective valves 76, so thatthe heads 73 bear upon the last layer of masonry which, forming anabutnientttherefor, permits the shield to be ad vanced when thecompressedair is admitted into said jack cylinders.

The sharp leading cutting edge of the shield facilitates the movementthereof through the ground and the pointed horizontal and verticalbreaker members formed by the concavely curved plates39, 40,41,42

and 43, respectively, serve to break their way through the sod,permitting easy digging thereinto if the same is necessary, from wthinthe shield, the workmen standing on the'lower portion of the inner shell2,1and alsoupon the respective floor plates 10 and 11. In certain kindsof soil, such as dry clay, the shield may be rapidly advanced by thejacks atsuccessive intervals, the ma- 1 terial which is compressed andforced into theshield being'adniitted through certain of the doors andtransferred away. However, for use in shifting soil'such as quick sandor the like, thedoorsare closed and the apertures therein regulated tothe desiredramount by the levers 60 and 70, which operate the gridplates, so that the soil'is first compressed into the bell shaped mouthof the shield, and then admitted in the quantities and at the ratedesired through the openings in the doors. \Vhen encountering a rock orvery hard strata where blasting is necessary certain of the 'doorsareopened,

the charge set, and the doors are then closed, 7

the workmen retiring to a safe distance back in the bore.

cavated by hand or in some instances, opening of the doors will permitthe material to" flow into the shield, where it may be loaded into thetunnel cars and transferred away. In any event, the shield which is ofthe After the charge has been fired the doors are opened and thematerial ex.-

shape of the bore being projected, prevents a cave-in taking place, andserves toaccurately break its way through the ground.

Any deviation of the shield from the line of bore-may beinstantly-corrected by manipulatingthe; proper valves 7,6, controllingcertain. of the jacks, so thatthe shield; may-be advanced upwardly ordownwardly, or. at any necessary lateral angle. Thev framing of. theentire shield isexceedingly strong and of course due-to itsarched shapeitis capable of. withstanding enormous exterior loads.

The valves for operating the hydraulic jacks which thrust the shieldforwardly as clearly shown in Figs lil and 13, consist of a rotatableelement 82, provided with two curved passages 83 and 8%. The pipe-75,from the valve leads tothe large cylinder 71, of the hydraulicjack,whereas the pipe 81,- on the o'pposite side'of said, valve, leads to thesmall cylinder 7% lViththe valve in V the position, shown in Fig. 13,air under pressure is admitted from the ring'manifoldspipe 78,throughthe pipe79, and thence through the valve into the pipe, 75, andthence .into, the large" cylinder7-l, thus causing. the. head 73, to,be. thrust outwardly. At the same time of course. it is. necessarytorel'ease the.:airtrapped within the small cylinder 74, and this iseffected by the passage S4, in said valve, which leads. to the pipe 81,communicating. with said: small cylinder, and to the pipe 80, which isconnected to' the exhaust ring manifold 77.

lVhen it is desired to retract the rams after the shield has been thrustforwardly the desired amount, the valve elements 82, are rotated bymeans of the handwheels 85, through an angle of ninety degrees, therebyestablishing connection between the pipes 79, and pipes 81, through thepassages 83, in said valve elements. so that the pressure from the ringmanifold 78, is transmitted behind the pistons in the small cylinders74, thus forcing the same rearwardly. Communication having beenestablished by means of the passages 81, in said valve element betweenthe pipes 75, and the pipes 80, the air trapped within the largecylinders 71. is exhausted therefrom into the ring manifold pipe 77.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, I have illustrated a cutting or boring toolwhich may be mounted behind certain of the doors in the shield, the toolbeing adjustably mounted upon a traveling carriage 90, which is securedbetween the respective floor plates 10 and 11, of the shield. The tool,when retracted into the position shown in Fig. 7, which is a sideelex'ation, is in such a position that the doors can easily be swungrearwardly into an open position, sutficient clearance being providedfor the purpose. The carriage 90. maythen be advanced by rotating thesmall pinion 91, and after the same has been advanced the proper amount,the tool, which is driven from the electric motor 107, is caused torotate and at the same time is gradually advanced byrotation of, the

pinion 94:, by meansof a suitable crank provided for theipurposebut notshown. The cutting point 98, serves tobreak the-material and clear a wayfor the cutting blades 99 and 100, which act. e'tliciently to: excavatethe material andenlarge the cut. After a certain amount has-been cutaway the tool nay be stopped and withdrawn and the material raked orshoveled back through the shield, any ofthe-doors being opened for. thepurpose topermit. most convenient transfer thereof. J r

The shield isvreadily adapted to sinking shafts as well asprojectingtunnel bores and acts efficiently inany instance to cut throughhismcontrollingrthe quantity of soill-admitted through the shield as thesame is advanced, said mechanism comprising a framework, door frameshingedly mounted thereon, a slotted door plate rigidly secured on eachof said door frames, reinforcing ribs integrally formed on one side ofsaid door plate between said slots, a second slotted door plate rigidlysecured to the other side of said first mentioned door plate, upper andlower guide bars secured on said second door plate, slotted grid platesslidably mounted in said guide bars, and a lever pivotally mounted oneach of said grid plates and to one of said upper guide bars adapted toactuate said grid plates to register the slots therein with the slots insaid door plates to control the passage of material through said doorswhen said doors are closed.

2. In a tunnel shield of the class described, a cylindrical shell, meansmounted therein for advancing the same through the ground, a frame-worksecured across the interior of said shell, slotted doors hingedlymounted thereon, guide bars on said doors, slotted grid plates slidablymounted therein, and

levers pivoted to said guide bars and to said grid plates adapted whenactuated to slide said grid plates laterally to control the slots insaid doors to admit material through the doors when the same are closedand said shield is advanced through the ground.

3. In a tunneling shield of the class described concentrically arrangedcylindrical shells, at flaring mouthpiece connecting the '-zo11tal andvertical partition wallswithin said shield, the forward endsthereofextended, breaker menibersfornied on the extended -Copiesofthispatent may be obtained-for {forward edges thereof'one'to another,horislidably move said grid'plat'es for controlj ling Openings in saiddoors to admit matevrialt-hrough the doorswhen said doors are closed,and means advancing said shield through the ground.

4. In a tunneling shieldof the class described concentrically arrangedelliptically shaped shells, a: flaring mouth-piece connect; ing theforward edges "thereof one, to another, breakenmembers extending acrosssaid device "W1t111n sa d mouth-piece, a plurality of doors connected insaid shield adapted to be swung r'earwardly into an open position,adjustable, grid plates sli'dably:

mounted thereon controlling openings in scribing said do0rs,a'nd'meanspivoted on said doors and grid plates adapted to laterally actuate saidgrid plates toadmit material through the doors 'When said doors areclosed.

Y 5. In a tunneling shield ofthe classidescribed concentrically arrangedelliptical shells, a flaring mouthpiece connectingthe forward edgesthereof one to another-,7

breaker members exten dingtacross said de-' Q vice \vlthinsaidmouthpiece, a;p1ural1ty of? doors connected insai'd'shield adaptedtoflbe swung rearwardly. into an; open 2 position,

laterally'adjustable gridplates controlling "saidgriil plates toadm'itmaterial through cpenings'in said doors, levers" connected to r it salddoors. and grld plates adapted to actuate f 45 the doorswhen said doorsare closed, means I; advancing saiddevice through the ground,

and'fn'eans independently operatable for ad vancing said shield'torwardly through the ground different aniounts'at different/pointstherearound. a

r In testimony WhereofI have hereuntosub scribed my name in the presenceof two subitnesses. r Y I v CORNELIUS G. HASTINGS. "Witnesses: J J a a'LLoYDf P. Lo'rT,'-' l PAUL J O'rTo.

five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner ofjraten ts Washington,D..G.r 1 5

